Kenya
Contacts:
Michael Yego michaelyego(at)yahoo.com , northrifthurinet(at) yahoo.com, northrifthurinet(at)gmail.com (North Rift Human Rights Network):
Grace Mwaura mwaurace[at]yahoo.com
( Chairperson of the Intervarsity Environment Network Kenya - also assisting in African Youth Initiative on Climate change )
Raphael Wanjaria Njararuhi raphaelwanjaria[at]gmail.com
( NationalCo-ordinator Youth Intercommunity Network Kenya)
Steve Itela itela[at]youthforconservation.org
(Youth for Conservation Kenya )
Gibson Amenya gamenya[at]kenyayounggreens.org Text/tel 254-722-825417
(Kenya Young Greens)
A National public Procession and Awarereness Public forum, is planned, to be held on 12th December 2009 at Tot in marakwet District, Rift Valley province of Kenya. This will be a National activity to educate the people of Kenya to protect the Environtment ,avoid destructions of our Forests in the Country and as well a petition to the Leaders to prevent any destructions of the Forests ,Rivers, Lakes and and other Natural Areas.
The event will bring together all members of Civil Society in the country, NGOs ,CBOs, FBOs, Goverment represenataives and members of Public in solidarity with the International Day of action. Contact Michael Yego (as above)
Grace, Steve and Raphael ( see Contacts, above) plan a meeting to discuss the way forward to organise an event for the Global day of Action in Kenya, as well. They are now discussing how this would work for Kenya in conjunction with other NGOs. They are looking for an organization to coordinate an event in Kenya. Ideas include collecting signed petitions, organizing an awareness walk, showing videos and perhaps holding an exhibition. It is hoped to involve as many groups as possible.
Grace heard about the GDA from the Bonn 2 youth list, and invited Steve and Raphael to the GCC Africa region conference chat. They were part of the demo in 2006 (see below) when the Climate Talks were in Nairobi, but hadn’t realised it was part of the GDA.
Kenya Young Greens have been working with low income communities and are planning an event in Nairobi for the GDA (contact Gibson, above).
Previous Global Days of Action
On the Global Day of Action on Climate 2008 more than 1500 people participated in a 5km walk and climate change awareness campaign in the Kerio valley (North Rift Valley). There were various actions including tree-planting.
For 6th December 2008 there are planned demonstrations in Nairobi and in two other towns in the Northern Kenya, Mandera and Turukana. The purpose of these demonstrations is to raise awarness on the impact of Climate Change on pastoralists. For more information contact Eric Kisiangani.
On the same day in the Rift Valley, North Rift Human Rights Network are organising a 5 km walk for the Global Action on Climate Change. The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness on the effects of climate change on the Embobut Forest in Marakwet District, Rift Valley. All partners are welcome to join this important global occassion. For more information contact North Rift Human Rights Network.
December 8th 2007
In Migori Town Bware Youth Action Network , a community based organisation in Nyanza, are organising events from 9am with a big procession marching to the stadium.
Contact: Caleb Twenya ctwenya[at]yahoo.com +254 723 927 204 (Bware Youth Action Network)
On November 11th, 2006 there was a colourful and lively demonstration, for action on climate, in Nairobi. This was on the Saturday midway through the UN Climate Talks
which were taking place at the UNEP building just outside Nairobi city. It was one week after the main Global Day of Action on November 4th. At about 8.30 am around 2500 participants coming from all sectors of civil society met at the Central Park to march through the city. The march was led by school classes followed by two marching bands (including the Prison Officers Band !). 70 Maasai farmers also participated in the march holding placards on which you could read slogans like "Our Climate - Our Survival". A lot of the participants accused the US government of stalling the process by refusing to join the Kyoto Protocol : placards were carried with the image of G.W. Bush and the Slogan " Wanted - for crimes against the planet". The march finished at Uhuru Park where the speakers included Grace Nkumu from Climate Network Africa and Geoff Davies, bishop of Cape Town. The event was organised by "Climate Change Campaign Africa" and Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform - with the development NGO 'Practical Action', also playing a major role.The media coverage of the event was great in all major Kenyan newspapers: it made front page news the next day. In total the organisers were very pleased with the number of participants and the tremendous friendly atmosphere which was created by the people on the march. See photos here.